United States Department of State

Nigeria United States Department of State

With well over 170 million citizens, a Gross Domestic Product (GDP) over USD 500 billion, and oil production over 2 million barrels per day, Nigeria has Africa's largest population, economy, and oil production (and export). Consistently strong GDP growth over the past decade has developed a growing consumer class and attracted considerable investor interest. Nigeria offers abundant natural resources and a low-cost labor pool, and enjoys mostly duty-free trade with other member countries of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS). However, much of Nigeria's market potential remains unrealized because of significant impediments such as pervasive corruption, inadequate power and transportation infrastructure, high energy costs, an inconsistent regulatory and legal environment, insecurity, a slow and ineffective judicial system, inadequate intellectual property rights protections and enforcement, and an inefficient property registration system.